Arsenal (H)

Everton vs Arsenal

Premier League

Goodison Park

Saturday August 23rd 5.30pm

A first home game of the season against the side who finished just above us last season. Tough game, we dont tend to do well against Arsenal, last season's 3-0 hammering was our first win over them since 2007.

Team News

Seamus Coleman is fully fit after coming on as sub last week, while Darron Gibson is also fit to return after long term injury. Only long term injuries Ross Barkley, Arouna Kone and Bryan Oviedo are definitely missing.

Former Blue Mikel Arteta is missing after injuring his ankle midweek against Besiktas. Keiran Gibbs, Serge Gnabry and Theo Walcott are still missing, with Yaya Sanogo is a doubt. Arsenal's World Cup winning German trio Mesut Ozil, Per Mertesacker and Lukas Podolski are available for the first time this season.

Howard

Coleman-Jagielka-Distin-Baines

Barry-McCarthy

Mirallas-Naismith-Pienaar
Lukaku

Ones to Watch

Matthieu Debuchy. French full back and big money signing from Newcastle replace countryman Bacary Sagna

Aaron Ramsey. Central midfielder who once rose from the dead at Stoke. Found a hell of a scoring touch over the last 2 seasons or so.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Tricky winger or attacking midfielder who has come into his own since the injury to Theo Walcott in January, huge miss for England in the World Cup...not that he's so good even he could have saved them!

Alexis Sanchez, this season's Mesut Ozil. Big money signing from Barcelona to give Arsenal hope of challenging for the League again.

Olivier Giroud, 16 goals last season from the striker who is generally still derided no matter what he does because he meets a lazy French stereotype. Put two past us in the Cup last season.

The Ex Factor

Mikel Arteta (Everton 2005-2011)

Appearances: 196 (12)

Goals: 35

Red cards: 3

(Arsenal 2011-Present)

Appearances: 121 (6)

Goals: 15

Red cards: 2

Previous Meetings

(Premier League, April 6th 2014)

Everton 3-0 Arsenal

(Naismith 14, Lukaku 34, Arteta OG 61)

(Premier League, November 28th 2012)

Everton 1-1 Arsenal
(Fellaini 28: Walcott 1)

(Premier League, March 21st 2012)

Everton 0-1 Arsenal

(Vermaelen 8)

(Premier League, November 14th 2010)

Everton 1-2 Arsenal

(Cahill 89: Sagna 36, Fabregas 48)

(Premier League, August 15th 2009)

Everton 1-6 Arsenal

(Saha 90: Denilson 26, Vermaelen 37, Gallas 41, Fabregas 48, 69, Eduardo 89)

Last Time

Everton 3-0 Arsenal (Naismith 14, Lukaku 34, Arteta OG 61) Premier League, April 6th 2014

Quite a way to end a long winless run again the Arse! Both chasing 4th place late last season, we'd won 4 games in a row after losing to Arsenal in the FA Cup and were just starting to come into form. Perfect timing as Arsenal were completely blown away. Naismith tapped in a rebound after Szczesny saved from Lukaku early on to put us in control that we never looked like letting go of. Lukaku made sure with a fantastic solo goal just past the half hour to basically finish the game. Just to really rub it in, we had all the fun of having Arteta score an own goal on the hour, then have him et shoved over by Ross Barkley, and booked for moaning about it! Great day all round!

Memorable Meeting

Everton 1-0 Arsenal (Johnson 90) Premier League, March 18th 2007

Our last win over Arsenal prior to last season, but it was a good one! We put in a great performance, Manny Fernandes having by far his best game for the club and running the show in midfield, but we just couldnt make a breakthrough and it looked like we were going to have to settle for a point. Cue a freak hailstorm and an Everton corner in front of the Gwladys in stoppage time. The ball was half cleared to Andy Johnson who didnt hesitate in absolutely cracking the loose ball through the tiniest of gaps between Justin Hoyte and the post to send Goodison absolutely wild. Still one of my favourite ever late winners! 

Prediction

Tough game, another draw wouldnt be a bad result, but can see us nicking a win, we're usually good at home. Everton 2-1 Arsenal